ABSTRACT
The spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mediates membrane fusion to allow entry of the viral genome into host cells. To understand its detailed entry mechanism and develop a specific entry inhibitor, in situ structural information on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in different states is urgent. Here, by using cryo-electron tomography, we observed both prefusion and postfusion spikes in ß-propiolactone-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virions and solved the in situ structure of the postfusion spike at nanometer resolution. Compared to previous reports, the six-helix bundle fusion core, the glycosylation sites, and the location of the transmembrane domain were clearly resolved. We observed oligomerization patterns of the spikes on the viral membrane, likely suggesting a mechanism of fusion pore formation.
Subject(s)
SARS-CoV-2/ultrastructure , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Amino Acid Motifs , Animals , Chlorocebus aethiops , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Electron Microscope Tomography , Glycosylation , Protein Domains , Protein Multimerization , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , Vero CellsSubject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry , Antibodies, Viral/chemistry , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Antiviral Agents/immunology , Drug Discovery , Humans , Models, Molecular , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/antagonists & inhibitors , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 carries the largest single-stranded RNA genome and is the causal pathogen of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. How the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome is folded in the virion remains unknown. To fill the knowledge gap and facilitate structure-based drug development, we develop a virion RNA in situ conformation sequencing technology, named vRIC-seq, for probing viral RNA genome structure unbiasedly. Using vRIC-seq data, we reconstruct the tertiary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and reveal a surprisingly "unentangled globule" conformation. We uncover many long-range duplexes and higher-order junctions, both of which are under purifying selections and contribute to the sequential package of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Unexpectedly, the D614G and the other two accompanying mutations may remodel duplexes into more stable forms. Lastly, the structure-guided design of potent small interfering RNAs can obliterate the SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells. Overall, our work provides a framework for studying the genome structure, function, and dynamics of emerging deadly RNA viruses.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , RNA, Viral/chemistry , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods , Virion/genetics , Animals , COVID-19/genetics , COVID-19/virology , Cells, Cultured , Chlorocebus aethiops , Genome, Viral , Humans , Nucleic Acid Conformation , RNA, Viral/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Virion/chemistry , Virion/metabolismABSTRACT
Receptor recognition and subsequent membrane fusion are essential for the establishment of successful infection by SARS-CoV-2. Halting these steps can cure COVID-19. Here we have identified and characterized a potent human monoclonal antibody, HB27, that blocks SARS-CoV-2 attachment to its cellular receptor at sub-nM concentrations. Remarkably, HB27 can also prevent SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. Consequently, a single dose of HB27 conferred effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 in two established mouse models. Rhesus macaques showed no obvious adverse events when administrated with 10 times the effective dose of HB27. Cryo-EM studies on complex of SARS-CoV-2 trimeric S with HB27 Fab reveal that three Fab fragments work synergistically to occlude SARS-CoV-2 from binding to the ACE2 receptor. Binding of the antibody also restrains any further conformational changes of the receptor binding domain, possibly interfering with progression from the prefusion to the postfusion stage. These results suggest that HB27 is a promising candidate for immuno-therapies against COVID-19.